For a few fleeting weeks, I had assumed I was in an oasis devoid of commericals, premature sales and hefty catologues.
While I don't want to speak too soon, something may be terribly wrong here.
The other day, on the tail end of the Kurban Bayram (Sacrifice of the Animals), I went to the mall to pick up some groceries. I noticed some tinsel hanging from the railings.
Ok. Maybe it's to celebrate the bayram.
Next I saw gold painted bells.
And a plastic Christmas tree.
And the coup de grace- a small Santa Claus on the tree.
While there aren't any commercials advertising anything remotely like Christmas, and there isn't a mall Santa, it still puzzles me why the decorations suddenly went up a few days before the first of December.
My only hope lies in the fact that when I ask Turks if we get Christmas off, they all say "Yes, there is no school on January 1st."
CORRECTION: I haven't completely renounced Christmas. There is an advent calendar hanging on the wall of my place. Thanks Mom and Dad!
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